Integrating apparatus



May 8, 1934. A, E. YOUNG 1,957,747

INTEGRATING APPARATiJS Filed May 1, 1933 3 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR y & 3934 A. E. YOUNG INTEGRATING APPARATUS Filed May 1, 1933 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR May S, 3934. A. E. YOUNG' INTEGRATING APPARATUS Filed May 1. 1933 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 W Hi INVENTOR lid Fatenteel 8, E1934 @FEQE.

This invention relates to integrating apparatus of the character shown and described in Letters Patent of the United States heretofore granted me, No. l,8o2,963 and No. 1,803,085, granted April 28, 1931; No. 1,815,949, granted August 4, i931; and No. 1,865,996, granted July 5, 1932; and consists in a refinement and, in some sense, a simplification of instrument structure, in consequence of which greater delicacy of operation may be attained, accuracy and durability enhanced, and costs of building and maintaining diminished.

In the accompanying drawings Fig. I is a view in vertical section or a gas meter in which my present invention is embodied; Fig. 11 is a fragmentary view in section, on the plane indicated at III1, Fig.1; Fig. m is a view, partly in side elevation, partly in section, on the plane m-m, Fig. E; Fig. IV is a view in plan from above of so much of the instrument as is illustrated in Figs. H and III, a fragment of the supporting case, however, being shown in section; Fig. V is a view corresponding to Fig. i, and showing certain modifications in detail.

The instrument upon which this invention constitutes improvement, as illustrated in Patent 1,865,996, Fig. 1, includes a continuously rotating member (the cylinder 5); an intermittently rotating member (the shaft 10); and means for uniting and separating the two said members to 'efiect intermittent rotation of the second in unison with the first. These uniting and separating means include arms 12, electro-magnets 14 and 17, and latches 15, borne by cylinder 5 (of. Figs. 11 and III), and a disk 11 borne by the shaft 10. A motor 6 is provided for imparting continuous rotation to cylinder 5.

In point of fact the cylinder 5 is formed of a phenol concentration product of high rigidity but of relatively light weight; but the electromagnets which the cylinder carries are necessarily relatively heavy; and their mass imposes upon the motor 6 the greater portion of its burden.

The instrument of the patent alluded to is further elaborated, in that'the shaft 10, rotated intermittently in the manner described, carries a second cylinder, 55, and this second cylinder, during a fraction of each of its rotations, imparts rotation to another shaft, the shaft 100, which shaft 100 is the driving shaft of a tally 23. The second cylinder, formed also of the light material alluded to, carries its set of electro-magnets, by which means are made effective for intermittently uniting shaft 100 with cylinder 55. In this more elaborate organization, manifestly, the motor 6 mounted within a suitable casing 2. A motor 3 is provided (here diagrammatically shown as an electrically driven clock), and through suitable gearing the clock constantly drives the cylinder.

A tally'e may be provided, to afiord register of the number of revolutions of the cylinder 1. A second rotary member (in this instance a second cylinder 5, mounted preferably on an axis of uniform orientation with cylinder 1, and pref erably coaxially with cylinder 1) is mounted W within the case 2, and means are provided for rotating the cylinder 5 in unison with cylinder 1 through a fraction of each rotation of cylinder 1,

the value of such fraction being greater or less, according to the instant value of a variable. The cylinder 1, formed in the main of insulat ing material, is equipped with two longitudinally extending but divergent strips 6 and 7 of conducting material, so that the interval between the strips, measured circumferentially of the cylinder, varies from point to point longitudinally of the cylinder. A beam 8 swings in a plane approximately tangent to cylinder 1, and is so proportioned and arranged that, as it swings, a brush 9, which it carries, travels longitudinally of and adjacent to the face of the cylinder. By known means, diagrammatically indicated in Fig. I, the beam 8 swings in response to variation in the difierential pressure in a stream of gas as it flows through an orifice in a plate 10 set in a. supply line 11. The brush 9 makes successive contacts, as cylinder 1 rotates, first with strip 6 and then with strip 7, and the interval between successive contacts is greater or less, according to the position of the beam .8 in its range of swing--that is 100 to say, according to the instant value of the differential pressure in the gas line. Electric circuits are provided, closed by the contacts of brush 9 with strips 6 and 7, in consequence of which electro-magnets are energized, clutch mechanism 05 shifted, and cylinder 5 rotated in unison with cylinder 1 during the portion of each rotation of cylinder 1 that intervenes between the successive contacts of brush 9, first with strip 6 and then with strip 7.

An electro-magnet element, consisting in this instance of two magnets, 12, is rigidly mounted on a bracket 13 that extends from the wall of case 2. An armature plate 14 is mounted on a stem 15, and stem 15 is carried by a bracket 16. The stem is splined in an orifice in bracket -16;

' and, while it may be shifted longitudinally within a limited range, it is held against rotation in its mounting. The stem is engaged by a spring 17 and yieldingly. held at one end of its range of longitudinal shifting; from such position it is shifted in left to right direction (Figs. III and IV),'against spring tension, magnetically, to the opposite end of its range, by the attraction which the electro-magnets 12 exert (when energized) upon the armature plate 14. The stem carries, rotatable upon it but secured against longitudinal shifting upon it, a gear wheel 18; and gear wheel 18 meshes with a gear wheel 19.

Upon stem 15 as an axle a gear wheel 20 is rotatable, and the steml5 may shift longitudinally while gear wheel 20 continues in relatively stationary position. The gear wheel 20 meshes with a gear'wheel 21. Gear wheel 21 rotates in response to rotation of cylinder 1, and cylinder 5 rotates in response to rotation of gear wheel 19.

Gear wheels 18 and 20 are equipped with complementary clutch parts; to the end that, when the stem 15 is shifted (in left-to-right direction, Figs. III and IV), rotation will be transmitted from cylinder 1 to cylinder 5. These complementary clutch parts are found in a serrated ring 22 borne by one gear wheel (in this case the wheel 18) and a toothed spider 23 borne by the other gear wheel (in this case the wheel 20). Fig. III shows these. clutch parts in engagement; Fig. IV shows them disengaged.

Latches 24 with hooked tips 25 and subject to the tension of springs 26 engage the armature plate 14. When the armature plate has by the tension of spring 1'7 been shifted from right to left to one limit of its range of movement (the position shown in Fig. IV), the latches, bearing upon its end surfaces, offer no significant hindrance to shifting in opposite, left-to-right, direction; when, however, inresponse to magnetic attraction, the plate has shifted to the opposite, right-hand limit of its range, the latches spring to the locking position, illustrated in Fig. III.

Another electro-magnet unit, 27, is provided, and the magnets 01' this unit, when energized, are eil'ective, by attraction upon the latches, to swing them from the locking position shown in Fig. III to releasing position again.

Operation may be understood by following the lines of circuit diagrammatically shown in Fig. I.- when, in the course of rotation of cylinder 1, strip 6 makes contact with the brush 9 upon beam 8, a circuit is completed from the A. C. power supply line through lead a, case 2, beam 8, brush 9, strip 6, lead 12, metallic ring 28 (borne by and encircling cylinder 1 at one end), brush 29, lead 0, electro-magnets 12, lead d, and back to the power supply line again. The electro-magnets 12, thus energized, attract the armature plate 14, and shift the stem 15 with the gear wheel 18 which it bears, against the tension of spring 17, from its extreme position to the left (Fig. IV) to its extreme posiLon to the right (Fig. III). In this shifting tw. things happen: (1) the clutch members 22 and 23 come to engagement; and (2) latches 24 close behind armature plate 14. Immediately afterward, on the continued turning of cylinder 1, the magnet-energizing'circuit is broken. The driving parts will, however, continue in the positions to which they have been brought, being locked in such positions by latches 24. The rotating cylinder 1 is then effective, through gear wheels 21, 20, 18, and 19, to rotate cylinder 5.

Such simultaneous rotation continues until, in the progress of cylinder 1, strip '7 comes to contact with. brush 9. A circuit then is closed from A. C. power supply, through lead a, case 2, beam 8, brush 9, strip 7, lead 6, metallic ring 30 (borne by an encircling cylinder 1 at its opposite end), brush 31, lead I, electro-magnets 27, lead (1, and back to the power supply line again. The electro-magnets 27, thus energized, attract the latches 24, and shift them, against the tension of springs 26, to open positions; whereupon the tension of spring 17 becomes effective to shift the armature plate 14 and its stem from the driving position (shown in Fig. III) to the release portion (shown in Fig. IV); the clutch parts are separated, and cylinder 5, no longer driven, stops. In the continued rotation of cylinder 1 the circuit that momentarily energized electro-magnets 2'7 is broken, and the latches 24 are left, responsive to the tension of springs 26. Since, meanwhile, the armature plate 14 has been shifted, the latches come to bearing upon the end surfaces of the plate, and the parts continue in the positions shown in Fig. IV until in the further turning of cylinder 1 strip 6 comes again to contact with brush 9. The operations described are then repeated.

A tally 32 may be associated with the gear wheel 19, to register the number of revolutions of cylinder 5; and if, under particular circumstances, other variables are .otherwisetaken care of, the reading of tally 32 will be an index of tlie'flow of gas in line 11. In such case it is quite possible so to proportion the parts that tally 32 shall afford a reading in units of volume of the quantity of gas that in a given interval of time tion, are rigidly mounted in the containing case; and the turning cylinder 1 has only to overcome the relatively small resistance involved in driv-' ing the interconnecting gearing and rotating the cylinder 5. In consequence, the instrument'is capable of greater accuracy and delicacy of operation. Additionally, the electro-magnet struc-.

ture, no longer limited in size-as necessarily it is, when carried by the cylinder-may be made of such size as is otherwise most suitable, and

the electro-magnets may be made responsive to currents of such strength and voltage as is best, without regard to limitations enforced by the mounting of them upon the cylinder; and in these ways economies may be effected; and etflciency and durability may be increased. It will be understood that 'as the size (ampere turns) of a. magnet is increased, the current required to move its armature becomes correspondingly less. Accordingly, in consequence oi. the structure already described, the magnets of the mechanism may be so proportioned electrically that currents as low as .001 ampere are eflective to energize them adequately, and thus the immediate energizing circuits for the magnets may include the contact strips 6, 7 and brush 9, withnets, in the improved instrument of this applica- V flowing in line 11.

meme? 3 out danger of sparking, as in the operation of the apparatus the strips 6, 7 make and break contact with the brush 9. Additionally, in directly connecting the magnets to the brush and contact strips, the use of auxiliary or relay circuits is dispensed with, and'economies in the initial cost of the apparatus manifestlyare effected.

In supporting the magnet mechanism upon a stationary support, instead of on the cylinders, there is less danger of breaking the clutch mechanism or throwing it out of adjustment. Additionally, the cylinders l, 5, without the clutch mechanism, are readily interchangeable in the apparatus, and the change may be made without the aid of an instrument expert. The simplified cylinders, furthermore, may be readily stored, or packed for shipment, and the danger of breakage in every respect is minimized.

Fig. I illustrates further elaboration of the instrument, with duplication of those parts, described above, in which invention is found. In the instrument of Patent 1,865,996, Fig. I, the assembly of rotating cylinder and swinging beam is duplicated, and integration is by such duplication efiected of the two variables, difierential pressure and static pressure, and the registration is efiected of resultant value during prolonged intervals of time. inder 5, formed essentially of insulating material, is equippedsuperficially with divergent strips 33 and 34 of conducting material and, cooperating with the rotatable and strip-bearing cylinder 5, a second beam 35, equipped with a brush 36, swings in a plane substantially tangent to cylinder 5, and the two strips 33 and 34 make successive contacts, as the cylinder turns, with the brush 35. Beam 35 in its range of swing is responsive to static pressure in the stream of gas By duplication of parts already described a tally 37 affords register of the aggregate value of the space interval between strips 33 and 34 traversed by, the brush 33 during successive rotations of cylinder 5. And since in a given interval of time cylinder 5 makes a number of revolutions, greater or less, ac cording to the extant value of the differential pressure, it is manifest that in a given interval of time tally 37 will register a value that is greater or less, according to the extant resultant value of the two variables, difierential pressure and static pressure. And since other variables are relatively insignificant, or may be otherwise either dispensed with orallowed for, it becomes a matter of proportioning of parts .to cause tally 37 to afiord a practically accurate register of the volume of gas flowing in line 11.

It will, of course, be perceived that more than two cylinders may be included in the apparatus, and that with each cylinder a beam may be organized, as the beam 8 with cylinder 1, to swing in response to variations in a variable and intermittently to efi'ect the energizing of associated clutch mechanism. That is to say, by duplication of parts already described, the instrument may be made responsive to more than two variables, whereby resultants involving more than two variables may be integrated.

In the instrument of Fig. I a single-motor (the clock 3) drives all the, rotating parts, and sustains a load which, though light (because of the stationary mounting of the electro-magnets), is still considerable. In the instrument of Fig. V, two cylinders 38, 39 are employed, identical with the cylinders 1 and 5 of the instrument of Fig. I; and with the two cylinders the same two So in this case the second cylbeams 49 and 41 (corresponding to beams 8 and 35 of Fig. I), responsive severally (it may be understood) to the same variables, are associated. Two motors are employed: motor 42 drives constantly the cylinder 33, precisely as (in the instrument of Fig. I) clock 3 drives cylinder 1. Motor 43 of the instrument'of Fig. V drives constantly the gear wheel 44. The two tallies 45 and 46 afiord register of motor operation. Clutch mechanism 47, identical with that illustrated in detail in Figs. ILIV and already described, and operating in response to the rotation of cylinder 38, completes an otherwise open gear train between motor 43 (through gear wheel 44) and cylinder 39. A tally 48 affords register of the-rotation of cylinder 39. A second identical clutch mechanism 49, operating in response to the rotation of cylinder 39, completes an other-.

wise open gear train between cylinder 39 and a tally 59.

Fig; V shows the two cylinders in positions where, vin the course oi rotation, the contact strips 51 and 52 that are instrumental in releasing the clutches have advanced beyond contact with the brushes borne by the two beams 40 and 41, and, accordingly, both clutches are shown in open position. Beginning at this point, as the motor-driven cylinder, 33 continues to rotate, the strip 53 will come to contact with the brush that beam 40 carries. 'Ihereupon the clutchclosing electro-magnets of the mechanism 47 will, insuch manner as has already been described, be energizeda the clutch will close; and, with this closure, driving connection will be established between motor 43 and cylinder 39. When in the continued advance of cylinder 33 strip 51 makes contact with the brush borne by beam 40, the clutch-releasing electro-magnets of the clutch mechanism 47 will be energized; the clutch will be opened; the driving connection between motor 43 and cylinder 39 will be opened; and cylinder 39 will stop. By such means, with each rotation of cylinder 38, cylinder 39 will turn through a fraction of a rotation; and that fraction will be greater or less, according to the instant value of the variable (difierential pressure) to which the beam 49 is in its swing responsive; and, in the course of repeated rotations of cylinder 38, cylinder 39 will complete its revolution. With such step-by-step rotation of cylinder 39 strip 54 will come to contact with the brush borne by beam 41; and then, through circuitssuch as have alreadybeen described, the clutch-closing electro-magnets of clutch mechanism 49 will be energized; the clutch will be closed; and the tally will be driven. In the further rotation of cylinder 39 strip 52 will come to contact with the brush borne bybeam 41; whereupon the clutch-opening magnets of clutch mechanism 49-will be energized; the clutch will open; andthe tally 50 will stop. By such means, tally 50 will during a prolonged interval of time register the resultant value of the two variables to which the beams 40 and 41 are severally responsive; and, being applied (for example) in the association diagrammatically indicated in Fig. I, may, by proper proportioning of parts, be made to register volumetrically'a gas flow.

In the instrument of Fig. V additional means are shown for imposing upon motor 43, at such time as the clutch mechanism is open, a load more or less accurately corresponding to that afiorded by cylinder 39. These means include a brake drum 55 whose rotation is resisted by a brake 56. The brake drum is equipped with a clutch member 57, which may be understood to be such a mated ring as the ring 22 of Figs. III and IV; and the stem 15 of the brake mechanism 47 is equipped with a second clutch member 58, which may be understood to be such a toothed spider as that designated 23 in Figs. III and IV. The parts are so organized that the left-to-right shifting of stem 15, that establishes driving connection between motor 43 and cylinder 39, separates the clutch members 5'7 and 58; but the right-to-left shifting of stem 15, which relieves motor 43 of the load of cylinder 39, closes the clutch members 57 and 58 and imposes upon the motor 43 the load of the brake.

Fig. V shows, in comparison with Fig. I, certain alternative details, adapting the instrument to particular conditions of field use. It may be that in particular situations a supply of alternating current is not available; it may be that there is no-available supply of electricity. Accordingly the motors 42 and 43 may be understood to be spring-driven clocks; and, in place of a power supply line, Fig. V shows diagrammatically a source 59 of electric current, which may be understood to be a battery provided with the instrument itself.

I claim as my invention:

1. In integrating apparatus a rotary driving member, a rotary driven member, rotation-transmitting means for imparting rotation from driv-, ing to driven member, such rotation-trarkmitting means including a clutch with a member movable between clutch-closing and clutch-releasing positions, means for shifting said movable mem ber including an electro-magnet mounted on a support that is stationary relatively to the rotation of the driving and. driven members, means for intermittently energizing the said electromagnet as the driving member rotates, and automatically operating means for locking said mov able clutch member in clutch-closing position.

2. In integrating apparatus a rotary driving member, a rotary driven member, the axes of the two said members being of uniform orientation, an electro-magnet mounted on a support that is stationary relatively to the two rotary members, an armature movable against spring tension in response to the energizing of the magnet, the said armature being equipped with a stem that extends in the direction of armature movement and in a direction parallel to the axes of the said rotary members, two gear wheels borne upon said stem and rotatable upon said stem as an axle and movable one relatively to the other in response to stem movement, the two gear wheels being equipped with complementary clutch members that in the range of stem movement unite and separate, the two gear wheels being adapted when in relative positions of clutch union to transmit ro'ation from the driving to the driven member.

3. ,In integrating apparatus a rotary driving member, a rotary driven member, the axes of the two said members being of uniformorientation, an electro-magnet mounted on a support that is stationary relatively to the two rotary members, an armature movable against spring tension in response to the energizing of the magnet, the said armature being equipped with a stem that extends in the direction of armature movement and a direction parallel to the axes of the said rotary members, a gear wheel borne by and rotatable upon said stem and movable with the stem in its longitudinal movement, the said gear wheel being arranged in driving connection with the said driven member; a second gear wheel in driving connection with said driving member, mounted upon "said stem as an axle and with respect to which the stem is longitudinally movable, the two said gear wheels being equipped with clutch members adapted to come to and to separate from cooperativev engagement in response to stem movement.

4. In integrating apparatus the combination of a motor, a rotatable member, an electro-magnet mounted ona support that is stationary relatively to said rotatable member, an armature for said magnet movable against spring tension in response to the attraction of the energized magnet, the said armature being equipped with a stem that extends in parallelism with the axis of the rotary member, two gear wheels rotatably mounted upon said stem as an axis, one movable with the stem in a direction to and from the other, brake mechanism including a drum, and means borne by the gear wheel that is movable with the stem for unitingit alternately with the drum of the brake mechanism and with the second gear wheel, the two said gear wheels constituting when united means for transmitting rotation from said motor to said rotatable member. I

5. In apparatus for aggregating the value of a variable during a given interval of time, a rotating member provided with contact means of varying circumferential extent from point to point throughout the extent thereof, a brush movable opposite the face of said rotating ,memher in a direction transverse to the direction of rotation of the rotating member and movable in response to variation in the value of the variable under measurement and adapted to make contact with the said contact means, a second rotatable member, agear train for imparting rotation from the rotating member first named to the second rotatable member, the gear train including two gear wheels mounted for independent rotating member first named.

6. In apparatus for aggregating the value of a variable during a given interval of time, a rotating member provided with two electrical contact pieces spaced apart at an interval or varying circumferential extent from point to point, a brush movable opposite the face of said rotating member in a direction transverse to the direction of rotation and movable in response to variation in the value of the variable under measurement and adapted to make electrical contacts with the said contact pieces successively, a second rotatable member, a gear train for imparting rotation from the rotating member first named to the second rotatable member, the gear train including two gear wheels mounted for independent rotation on a common axis and movable in axial direction one relatively to the other, the two said gear wheels being provided with complementary clutch members adapted in their range or relative movement to engage one another and to separate, means including an electromagnet for shifting one of said gear wheels axially.

relatively to the other to clutch-closing position, and means including an electro-magnet for releasing the clutch members, such electro-magnets being subject to energizing in response to contact of said brush with the contact pieces borne by the rotating member first named.

7. Apparatus for determining the resultant of a plurality of variable quantities including two rotatable members, two brushes movable, one adjacent the face of each of said rotatable members through a range transverse to the directions in which the members move, means whereby said brushes in such movements are responsive, each to one of the variables whose resultant is to be determined, electric contact means borne by each of the two said rotatable members and adapted to be engaged in the course of rotation by the said brushes, a third rotatable member, means for rotating the first of said rotatable members, two gear trains arranged, one between the first rotatable member and the second, and the second beiwveen the second rotatable member and the third, each of such gear trains including two axially aligned independently rotatable gear wheels adapted to be shifted axially one relatively to the other and equipped with clutch parts, whereby in the range of such relative shifting they may become alternately united and separated, means for effecting such relative shifting of the two gear wheels, including an electro-magnet mounted on a support that is stationary relatively to the said rotatable members, and means for energizing and deenergizing the said electro-magnet in accord with the engagements of the contact means borne by the rotatable member and the adjacent brush.

8. Apparatus for determining the resultant of a plurality of variable quantities, including two rotatable members equipped, each with contact means of variable circumferential extent from point to point in a direction transverse to the direction of rotation, two brushes movable in transverse directions, one adjacent the face of each of the two rotatable members and severally responsive in movement to the instant values of the two variables to be integrated, two motors, each adapted to drive one of the two said rotatable members, a gear train arranged between one of the motors and the second rotatable member, such gear train including two axially aligned independently rotatable gear wheels adapted to be shifted axially one relatively to the other and equipped with clutch parts, whereby in the range of such relative shifting they may become alternately united and sepa-- rated, means subject to electric control by contact of the means borne by the first rotatable member and the adjacent brush for efiecting relative shifting of said gear wheels, a third rotatable member, and means for driving the third rotatable member in accord with rotation of the second rotatable member during a greater or less portion of each rotation of such second member, according to the position of the brush adjacent the said second member.

9. In integratmg apparatus a rotary driving member, a rotary driven member, a gear train interposed between driving member and driven member, such gear train including two axially aligned, independently rotatable gear wheels movable relatively in axial direction, the two said gear wheels being provided with cooperating clutch members adapted in the range of relative axial movement to unite and to release the two said gear wheels, means for effecting such relative axial movement of said gear wheels including an electro-magnet mounted on a support that is stationary relatively to the rotation of driving and driven members, and means for intermittently energizing said electro-magnet as said drivin member rotates.

10. In an integrating apparatus a rotary driving member, a rotary driven member, rotationtransmitting means for imparting rotation from driving to driven member, such rotation-transmitting means including a clutch with a member movable between clutch-closing and clutch-releasing positions, yielding means for holding the movable clutch member normally in clutch-releasing posi tion, means for shifting said movable member including an electro-magnet mounted on a support that is stationary relatively to the rotation of the driving and driven members, automatically operating means for locking said movable clutch member in clutch-holding position, means including an electro-magnet for shifting said locking means to clutch-releasing position, and means for intermittently energizing in succession the two said electro-magnets as the driving member rotates.

11. In integrating apparatus a rotary driving member, a rotary driven member, two gear-wheels coaxially mounted and relatively movable in the direction of their common axis, the two gearwheels being equipped with complementary clutch members that in the range of relative movement unite and separate, an electro-magnet; mounted on a support that is stationary relatively to the two rotary members first named, means tending to hold the two said gear-wheels at one end of their range of relative movement and the said gearwheels being responsive to the energizing of the said electro-magnet in movement to the opposite end of their range of relative movement, means for intermittently energizing said electro-magnet as the driving member rotates and the two gearwheels being adapted when in the relative positions established by the energizing of the electromagnet to transmit rotation from the driving to the driven member.

ARCHER. E. YOUNG. 

